A few years ago Helga Merits informed me that my Estonian grandfather had been a student at the Baltic University while he was living in a DP camp in Germany after WWII. I had no idea. After searching through some of my old family photographs Helga confirmed that a few of them were indeed taken at the Baltic University. This revelation opened up a whole new dimension with my family history research and naturally I was thrilled to learn that Helga was making a documentary on this topic. I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this film.
About Helga Merits: After working as a journalist for Dutch and Belgian newspapers and national radio, Helga Merits began making historical documentary films. Her previous film, The Class of 1943 – remember us when we are gone (2012) featured the fate of five Estonian boys from the Tartu Boys Gymnasium who were forced to join the German army. "The Story of The Baltic University" is her fourth documentary which will have its World Premiere at EstDocs Film Festival, Toronto, 16 - 20 October 2015. DOC member and EstDocs Programme Director Kalli Paakspuu interviewed Merits about the film.
To read the full POV Magazine interview with Helga Merits, please click here: http://povmagazine.com/articles/view/a-phoenix-born-of-ashes-and-desire-the-story-of-the-baltic-university
